"Pfft~ Oda's expression is so amusing!" Standing in the spectator area, Mishita Ryuhei's gaze swept over Oda Miki, who was in the substitute zone, and he couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Akashi Asuka was momentarily stunned, then also looked in Oda Miki's direction. With just one glance, he, too, couldn't hold back a smile.
"That guy... it looks like he hasn't been able to enjoy his high school life lately!"
Oda Miki's expression at this moment could be vividly summarized by the words, "worn out and weathered by life's trials."
Akashi knew a little about the goals Oda Miki had set for himself in high school. At the time, he hadn't had any strong opinion on it; after all, choosing one's lifestyle is a personal choice.
Akashi just never imagined that this guy would end up at Karasuno.
Wanting to enjoy the high school life of a literary youth yet joining the Karasuno Volleyball Club—it sounded like a fantasy.
...
Karasuno vs. Joshizen
The match on the court had officially begun.
Karasuno's first match was against Joshizen High School, a school that could be summarized in two words: fodder.
The school's volleyball club was purely recreational. Everyone getting together to have fun was fine, but in an official match, they were completely inadequate.
The first set finished in less than fifteen minutes, with Karasuno taking it 25:12.
The second set was similar; in less than fifteen minutes, Karasuno secured the victory 25:14.
The final score was two sets to zero.
Karasuno successfully advanced to the next round.
"Alright, it's our turn to get on the court next."
After Karasuno's match ended, Irihata Nobuteru clapped his hands and led the Seijoh players away from the spectator stands to prepare for Seijoh's own match.
Seijoh's opponent was confirmed to be Omisaki High School.
During the interim break, Irihata Nobuteru decided on the starting lineup:
* Setter: Oikawa Tōru.
* Wing Spiker (Ace): Akashi Asuka.
* Wing Spiker: Iwaizumi Hajime.
* Middle Blocker: Kindaichi Yūtarō.
* Middle Blocker: Matsukawa Issei.
* Libero: Watari Shinji.
...
Although Akashi took Iwaizumi Hajime's "Ace" position, this did not mean Iwaizumi Hajime would be relegated to a substitute player; they simply swapped positions.
Overall, even without the "Ace" title, there are currently few players within Seijoh whose ability surpasses Iwaizumi Hajime.
This lineup was undoubtedly luxurious. Leaving aside everything else, their sheer height was enough to create a massive sense of pressure, which could be seen from the expressions on the faces of the Omisaki High School players opposite them.
The two Middle Blockers were 189\text{cm} and 187\text{cm} tall, respectively.
And the Wing Spiker Akashi and the Setter Oikawa Tōru were both slightly over 184\text{cm}.
Just with these four standing at the net, the opposing players were enveloped in a large shadow. Looking straight ahead, they could barely see the heads of their opponents.
"Ooh, ooh, ooh~~ Seijoh's average height this year is so high!"
"Is that Oikawa Tōru? What impressive presence."
"Woah! Why is that guy at Seijoh?"
Someone in the stands suddenly spotted Akashi and was instantly surprised.
"That guy? Who is it?" His companion asked curiously.
"The number 8."
"Number 8... huh? This person's face is quite unfamiliar. I've never seen him before. Is he a newcomer this year? That's amazing; a first-year getting a single-digit jersey number?"
"Nonsense! That guy was last year's Junior High 'MVP Spiker.' He led the formerly unknown Senda Junior High to the National Tournament with his power alone... Why did he join Seijoh? I thought he definitely got a special invitation to Shiratorizawa!"
Akashi's first formal appearance in the High School Tournament sparked considerable discussion.
When the opposing Omisaki High School players heard these discussions, their already heavy hearts felt as if another massive stone had been placed upon them.
The Ultimate Offense Unleashed
A moment later, as the referee's whistle sounded, Seijoh's first match officially began.
Seijoh's opening server in the first set was Oikawa Tōru. Omisaki High School had clearly done their homework and knew Oikawa Tōru's serve was potent. Thus, when Oikawa Tōru walked to the baseline with the ball, both the frontcourt and backcourt players on the opposite side adopted a stance of extreme readiness.
"Ara ara, you don't need to be so vigilant; after all, I'm not some kind of devil, am I?"
Oikawa Tōru smiled lightly, gently bouncing the volleyball a few times on the floor. Then, his expression hardened, and his gaze instantly became calm.
The next second, accompanied by a non-existent background music, Oikawa Tōru gently tossed the volleyball into the air.
BAM!
Like a sudden fierce wind, the volleyball in Oikawa Tōru's hand instantly cut through the air, flying toward the boundary of the Omisaki High School court.
THUD!
The sound of the volleyball striking the floor rang out. The Omisaki players failed to react, and Seijoh scored the first point.
1:0.
"So fast! Even though we knew the serve was powerful from the videotapes, I never expected it to be this fast. We had no time to react," an Omisaki player said, wiping the cold sweat that had appeared on his forehead.
"What bad luck! I can't believe we ran into Seijoh in only the second round..."
"Don't give up! The match has just started. No one knows what will happen until the very last moment!"
The Omisaki High School players encouraged each other, their morale slightly uplifted.
Oikawa Tōru stood outside the baseline, looking at the expressions on the faces of the Omisaki players, and said with a touch of "disappointment": "Eh? It would have been better if you had just given up! If you can't be defeated by me, you will be utterly despairing when the other person comes on the court later!"
BAM!
As he finished speaking, Oikawa Tōru suddenly leaped and launched the second serve.
The speed of this ball was not as fast as the first, but the landing spot was far more tricky, situated precisely at the cross-point between the backcourt Libero and the Opposite Hitter.
Facing such a ball, both the Omisaki Libero and Opposite Hitter froze simultaneously.
"Should I take this ball, or should he take it?"
"Should I take this ball, or should he take it?"
The same question flashed simultaneously in the minds of the Omisaki Libero and Opposite Hitter. The result of this brief hesitation was that neither of them moved, watching helplessly as the volleyball landed.
2:0.
Oikawa Tōru then served three more consecutive balls.
As expected, ordinary high schools were completely powerless against Oikawa Tōru's serve, and he easily scored three more points.
The score became 5:0.
It wasn't until the sixth serve that Oikawa Tōru made a mistake, overhitting the ball out of bounds, costing a point.
The score became 5:1.
This error finally allowed the Omisaki players to sigh in relief. They regrouped and continued the match.
However, the next point was won back by Seijoh, making the score 6:1.
The serving right then returned to Seijoh.
And this time, due to the rotation, it was Akashi Asuka's turn to serve.
...